*Yes, It's another RLP!*

[bobba1]

About a week ago, I was just strolling around the city centre waiting for a friend to have lunch, when I thought I'd go have a look in Debenhams in the *beauty* section (yes, I am your typical teenage girl - unfortunately)

 

In hindsight(duh) I admit it's stupid, I don't know how anyone can deny that shoplifting is stupid in any light, sometimes it just seems all too easy... anyhow, as I hovered around the exit, sweeping a few makeup bits into my bag, I exited the store with my music blasting into my ears through my earphones, I was then apprehended by a Security Guard, he claimed I had set the alarm off, I have never shoplifted before, ever. So, when he said I had set the alarms off, I thought... was my music really all that loud? I walked back in *worried* past the barriers, and heard no beeping of such, and immediately thought I could be in the clear, silly me.

I was lead to the Security panel as it were, just a block infront of the door where another guard stood, asked for me to open my bag, I complied, and then the guard then reached his hand into the front compartment of my bag to reveal the stolen items *facepalm* How could I be so stupid?!

 

I welled into tears within milliseconds, I asked what would then happen to me, the security guard just ignored me, whilst then calling on his walky-talky for some "backup" Within 2 minutes, about 4 men(a bit excessive, I'm only a 5ft 1 little lady) walked down the stairs and lead me up to a 'detention room' I was asked to firstly empty my bag then write down my Name, Address & DOB, they asked for identification, and I surrendered my passport(stupid decision, I reckon) they asked if I had anything with my address on it, but I don't have a drivers license, so... no. (but! I am a tender age of 18)

I was handed a notice for the RLP and a letter stating I would be banned and my passport returned, at this point I was distraught and pouring every single last tear out of my body that was physically possible.

 

The police were informed and on their way, the door of the "Detention Room" was left wide open and a female was sat in the office area, and she seemingly was just mocking me, and was just blatently openly digging at me to other people(Fine, I had just commited an offence... but really?) I also kept being asked if I spoke English(I am of an Oriental decent.. but.. I was speaking English the whole time, I don't see the need why they needed to ask again and again.. *sigh*)

 

The Police officer finally arrived, and then arrested me verbally on suspicion of blah blah blah, told me my rights and all that, he did a check on me to make sure I hadn't had any previous record of anything, I was clear(otherwise he would have hauled my ass into the station!!) and basically told me what I could and could not do, I was feeling exceptionally vulnerable, I was literally crying like a baby... I almost felt like I was going crazy, nonetheless, he sat with me, but wasn't very nice either way, he eventually officially *de-arrested* me, and began an *interview* process, I admitted to stealing the products up to £78 of value and all that jizzle jazzle, he told me I was very much on my last legs, and I have committed a serious crime, but I technically do NOT have a criminal record, I apologized to the store manager profusely, she continued to photograph me... for what purpose, I do not know? -can anyone tell me?

Anyhow- I have been ordered to pay a fixed penalty notice of £80 and I intend to do so the coming Monday because I only have a debit card, and have not yet had a chance to get any money to put into the account, but I don't want any kind of Police chasing after me, so I will indefinitely be doing that ASAP

 

I still have not received an RLP letter as of current, but I am just waiting for it to come through to state I owe them a so-so ridiculous amount, the items were obviously found and returned without damage, I have read ALOT on this forum all day, and as I was almost sure that RLP wouldn't pursue many of the cases, I read about how they are beginning to take some cases to court now? I don't know, but I was unable to find any stories that went into detail with any police action, and admission of guilt.

-at the same time, I did *coincidentally* see the feature on the ONE show on BBC that aired Wednesday evening, I have read the CAB report(I plan on visiting them or calling them up as of when I receive the RLP letter), and the article on the guardian paper.

 

Since I have admitted to the event does this mean I have no legal grounds to refuse paying anything? even if all goods were recovered undamaged?

 

If you've gotten this far in reading my pointlessly long and somewhat sarcastic asterisk, elipses and bracket-filled story(I like punctuation, is it a crime?!), then I applaud you- any help would be greatly appreciated

 

TIA!

 

 

Edit: Sorry this is a late night post! I can't seem to sleep since this has happened, I've been so worried as to what might happen, but I'm not hysterical!

Edited February 19, 2011 by bobba1
I apparently like to type alot...

[dx100uk]

there is no statute in law the compels you to pay an rlp 'invoice' for a 'loss' or staff time.

 

it make no diff that you got a fpn , that does not make the speculative rlp invoice anymore 'legitimate'

 

they have never gone to court.

 

dx

[MARTIN3030]

Edit: Sorry this is a late night post! I can't seem to sleep since this has happened, I've been so worried as to what might happen, but I'm not hysterical!

 

Well look it it from this angle....do you think they will lose sleep if you dont pay ?

 

Come back to us if you do get a letter we will advise further,but I imagine theres not a lot we can say which you didnt read here already.

[bobba1]

thanks, it's been exactly a week now, still no letter, but will keep this posted!

[Batfink]

Oh, and why photo? So they can put it up in their security room (where they watch the cameras) to double check against if you come into the store. Can be a veritable "rogues gallery" in certain establishments.

[ragsrule]

Ok, I'm going to stick my neck out here.. whilst I really do sympathises with folk who do shoplift for what ever reason and get caught I can't help thinking that some are so blasé about the whole thing!

 

If you know you'll get nicked then why do it, it just doesn't make sense... I don't agree with daylight robbery of RPL but can understand why shops have to have something in place because at the end of the day, we all have to pay towards the shoplifters because goods go up to cover their loss.

 

In my working life I have seen first hand just how much a business looses through shoplifting. Having worked in retail for many years have come across so many excuses and now take them all with a pinch of salt. I do really feel for struggling parents trying to feed their children or a pensioner who just can't manage. Whilst I don't agree with it I do understand but someone just nicking random stuff beggars belief !!

[dx100uk]

the thing here that you need to probably realise is that only about 25% of 'what' these fleecers demand actually goes back to the store.......

 

worth a thought

 

dx

[ragsrule]

Oh I agree, but my point being about the small business that have problems. Years ago I worked for a small franchise store/petrol station. What with Drive offs and shoplifting my boss had to give it all up as he just couldn't deal with the loss. The area wasn't particularly nice which didn't help.

 

But folk who just nick for the sake of it or nick to order are the one's that RPL should deal with. Someone who for what ever reason, parents on low income, old age pensioner and people who really didn't know what they were doing due to mentality are the one's being hit. First time offerners etc..

 

The lady who wrote in this topic knew exactly what she was doing, come on £78. worth you can't tell me she really didn't know. Didn't care I would say. I really can't afford price increases because these stupid people are the cause of the rise in the first place...

 

 

[ScarletPimpernel]

Oh I agree, but my point being about the small business that have problems. Years ago I worked for a small franchise store/petrol station. What with Drive offs and shoplifting my boss had to give it all up as he just couldn't deal with the loss. The area wasn't particularly nice which didn't help.

 

But folk who just nick for the sake of it or nick to order are the one's that RPL should deal with. Someone who for what ever reason, parents on low income, old age pensioner and people who really didn't know what they were doing due to mentality are the one's being hit. First time offerners etc..

 

The lady who wrote in this topic knew exactly what she was doing, come on £78. worth you can't tell me she really didn't know. Didn't care I would say. I really can't afford price increases because these stupid people are the cause of the rise in the first place...

 

 

 

 

The correct process for dealing with thieves is through the justice system, not speculative invoicing outfits like RLP. If there is a place for civil recovery, it's after conviction by a court of law. But then, that's exactly what it was designed for by those who dreamt it up originally. The problem, of course, is that professional shoplifters won't be bothered by civil recovery schemes, and anyway, if they are convicted they either use their money to pay fines, or they have no money because they go to prison.

 

If it was really about damages, then the bulk of the money would go to the retailer. When RLP and the like are able to bully someone into paying them, the bulk of the money goes straight into their pockets.

 

RLP set themselves up as judge, jury and executioner; remember that when joyriders and drug dealers get beaten up on estates in Northern Ireland, it's done by people who've set themselves up the same way. Both are deeply unsavoury in their own way, and have no place in a society like ours.

[bobba1]

Oh I agree, but my point being about the small business that have problems. Years ago I worked for a small franchise store/petrol station. What with Drive offs and shoplifting my boss had to give it all up as he just couldn't deal with the loss. The area wasn't particularly nice which didn't help.

 

But folk who just nick for the sake of it or nick to order are the one's that RPL should deal with. Someone who for what ever reason, parents on low income, old age pensioner and people who really didn't know what they were doing due to mentality are the one's being hit. First time offerners etc..

 

The lady who wrote in this topic knew exactly what she was doing, come on £78. worth you can't tell me she really didn't know. Didn't care I would say. I really can't afford price increases because these stupid people are the cause of the rise in the first place...

 

 

 

I'm sorry that you're so angry for whatever reason, waking up on the wrong side of the bed perhaps?

I was tempted and that's that. I'm foolish, i'll give you that, but I'm not a bludgering idiot, I'm still a fully law-abiding citizen, and I work to pay taxes so that people like YOU can rake off and get benefits.?. PUH-LEAZE!

and I don't think the entirety of "price rises" can be caused just from shoplifters.. because ofcourse.. there's nothing in the world such as bad economy is there?

 

And, why are you attacking me when you say that people that should be exempt are *First Time Offenders* i.e. myself?

 

If you want to stick your neck out on my post about shoplifting? then you have a LOT of people to deal with. I'm looking for advice, not judgement, so rather than looking for people to cyber-bully while sitting at home doing nothing productive- raking benefits, I'll advise you to butt out.

[bobba1]

No letter yet, almost been a month *shrug*

[MARTIN3030]

Dont supposed you are in any hurry to open one ?

[bobba1]

Dont supposed you are in any hurry to open one ?

 

Haha! it's not crossed my mind too much honestly, with all the threads I've read.. seems that nothing particularly happens.. but I have heard that they can contact you within any time period of 7 years.. not that it changes my opinion *shrugs again*

[MARTIN3030]

Actually they do stop,once RLP understand that you arent so gullable as many who have chosen to pay without question.

What is a concern,is their recording of your data on 3rd party databases.

If this is a concern to you,or anyone else,then you are entitled to know under the provisions of the Data Protection Act.

 

I would suggest that anyone who wants to know if they are sharing or processing your data,to send a full DSAR.

For a tenner it may well be worthwhile not only requesting the info on any reporting or sharing to 3rd parties,but also other info relating to your case.

[bobba1]

I ignored their first letter, infact my partner tore it up and burned it before I even got to see it physically!

I have since received a second letter (only last week) which makes it.. 2 and a half months? ..

It basically reads "your failure to respond is a breach of the practice direction relating to pre action conduct and the civic procedure rules 1998" and then goes on to say that the reason for this practice is to negotiate a settlement without needing to issue a court proceeding, and that they must now "regrettably" advise their client(Debenhams in this case) to do just that. then tells me that as I have no defense(lawyer- um.. how do they know?) that I should not let the court matter further itself as it will just add to my alleged "fees" in court sums, legal costs and an interest rate at 8%PA, and then advises ME to get some legal advice. PAH, I say!

 

The letter then details how I can pay by listing a phone number for their collection department, and says there are other payment options on the reverse of the letter- I turn it around... low and behold.. it is blank(very clever, RLP!) and the ending comes to where they want to keep negotiating a way of payment, whether it be prolonged or in instalments... doesn't seem very professional IMO.. to practically threaten to take me to court (LOL) and then say.. well it will all just go away if you pay it up.. little by little... *shake my head*

 

I don't intend to reply to it, I feel it's just a waste of my ink, time and effort.

 

Will keep this updated, if anybody has any Qs, do LMK!

[Steve Williams]

Hey bobba, so they don't actually tell you that they're 100% going to take you to court! Just threats? And also could you keep me updated on the letters you recieve too! Thanks.

[flo7777]

What I don't really understand is how can they just eventually chose to forget about the money is requests. Surely somewhere along the line they realise there is a shortage of money coming through, especially to the shop which has employed them to track down the money? Or do they just get enough money from all the people who do pay up to cover the loses?

[MARTIN3030]

Post unapproved.

We dont condone shoplifting nor breaking the law.

However it is for a Court of law to determine not for RLP or anyone else,if a person is guilty.

[bobba1]

I am back!!

1 and (almost) a half year later...!! Another letter from RLP... Kinda long right?

 

the letter says RLP have been asked to "pursue" a civil claim against *named person*

 

And the address at the time was provided by the person,

states that there has been no response to the letters sent previously,

then it asks for the occupier to clarify if the address is correct for above named person,

 

it asks for the occupier to contact RLP to further clarify

- then goes on to say "documents have been prepared for the *named person* something something practice direction

For pre-action protocol and civil procedure rules,

and says court papers may be issues etc etc

(the letter is helpfully print-cut off on the right so I can't make out what some of it says)

 

Any experience with this? Or advice? TIA!

[dx100uk]

phishing trip

 

 

dx